It is enough

(Quote on my chalkboard. Shared by the wonderful author of this blog's mother)

Oh my, Oh me.

It could be tempting to paint a portrait of orderly day: mothering with finesse, charming children issuing amusing commentary on life, dinner previously prepared, coupons and 50 fingernails cut, crumbs gathered, table set, little head buried in their books, dusty DVD's and a worn out Family Bible...

But that is for another author of another blog to wax eloquently about,

for those are faraway dreams for the female behind this font.

As I type, I am desperately trying to ignore the NON quiet time that was supposed to be sans the "NON"!!!! No one is cooperating, except for my two year old who fell asleep on the couch to Jay Jay the Jet Plane, which makes it even more imperative to keep my normally good napper who arose way (and I mean WAY) too early from her slumber, up in her pack and play located in a large, dark closet that I finally gave light and books to. She is still up there. The three year old brother is constantly faced with the temptation to snatch any and all nunnys from his younger siblings, even at the risk of non-too pleasant (but loving) punishment.

I'm telling you right out:

I. DO. NOT. HAVE. IT. TOGETHER. TODAY.

Most days end with me thinking "Wow. I need to do better tomorrow. Come up with a new game plan. And I should have read them more books {ok, honesty check} I should have read them books".

But there are two little words that must be inserted here-and wherever the word "should" appears in our vocabulary.

GRACE & MERCY

That is what I am given every second of every day. This task in front of me is not by accident, it is a part of my life's mission...a huge element of the grand adventure i am on with Jesus. He's not a "rule monger" up and out of my reality, watching from on high, waiting for me to mess up, wanting me to pathetically beg for His forgiveness that He's already extended a long, long time ago. He is not into 'sin management'. He doesn't have a daily log for me, poised with his pen to check off if and when i had my daily 'quiet time'. Nor does He demand my allegience, but he desires a relationship that would naturally produce it.

GOD is LOVE.

All that is wrong in my heart could be set right if I lived in that love.

All the parenting tips i need are found in growing in and learning of that perfect Love.

HE will show me what i need for each day. He's that personal.

He does not hoard. He is downright delighted when we ask for the GRACE and MERCY that we need to keep going...to fulfill the 'mission' that is uniquely ours....

And today, my mission is to love and care for these many little, little people who can not do much for themselves at all, such as:

...Pick a hangnail (which I did for my daughter. With my teeth. And swallowed it. Gross, I know)

...Or pick a booger (as I also did for my other daughter. With my finger. And promptly put it in the inside of my pant leg for lack of a tissue in an arm's length radius)

...Breastfeed a dying chick in attempts to save it's little life. (ok, maybe not. but my husband had told me he considered giving CPR to one who eventually died in his hand, and as compassionate as he is, I just had to laugh!!!)

ALL THAT TO SAY:

Today I give myself a break, for I do not live under judgement for my parenting, but rather the purest LOVE possible. A perfect Love that guides imperfect me to learn how to better love the little lives that are crawling, squirming, walking, sprinting and climbing all over and around me.

And that is enough.

Gotta run...

It is WAY TOO QUIET.